Suns to honor ‘The Hawk’ Oct. 20 with memorial service open to public
Oct 13, 2017, 7:11 PM
Connie Hawkins of the Phoenix Suns is pictured in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Feb. 16, 1971. (AP Photo/Robert Kradin)
(AP Photo/Robert Kradin)
Memorial services for Phoenix Suns legend Connie Hawkins are set for 12:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 at Talking Stick Resort Arena, the Suns announced.
According to a press release, the memorial service will be open to the general public and parking is free at the arena garage on the southeast corner of First and Jefferson streets. Doors open at noon and admission is free to the public.
The Suns organization said they will honor Hawkins by wearing a special patch on their uniforms throughout the 2017-18 season. Hawkins, who is regarded as the Suns’ first superstar, died on Oct. 6 of an undisclosed illness. He was 75.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., “The Hawk” started his professional basketball career with the Pittsburgh Rens of the American Basketball League in 1961 before joining the Harlem Globetrotters. In 1969, he landed on the Phoenix Suns, his first stint on a National Basketball Association team. He averaged 24.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game that season.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
A funeral service is scheduled for Oct. 16 in Brooklyn.
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